The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-12-01
HUNTING FOR BEE TREES.
How the stores Of Honey are Found In
the Western wilderness.

| Slppl the wild bees swarm IN countless
numbers, feeding on the luxurious vege-
tation which skirts and intersects the
prairies all along the alluvial bottoms of
the rivers, and seeming to fulfill liter
ally the Bible description of Gland flow
ing with milk and honey" Hollow trees
are taken possession of by them, and
honey stored into them in large quanti-
ties. If nothing disturbs them they re-
main in their old quarters for long periods
at time, laying up stores of honey for
their own use, and, as is often the case,
| for the bears or the white men in the long
run. The hunters who make business
of collecting the honey are the most mer-
ciless enemies that the little creatures
have. Unlike Bruin, who discovers a
hive of honey by chance, or through the
aid of his sensitive nose, the bee hun
ters carry ON their work systematically,
watching the habits of the little creatures
while gathering honey from the flowers
and then following them as they return
to their home through the air. After an
| experience of year or two in the bust
ness, the hunters can locate with won-
| derful accuracy the home of the Lees,
notwithstanding the fact that the hive is
often situated in a dense forest, and in
| trees where no one would ever think of
looking for honey. Like most other wild
creatures, the bees betray their hiding
place by their own action.
The hunters before starting out in quest
of their rich booty provide themselves
with the necessary equipments. These
consist of axes, rifles, matches and a
small piece of honeycomb. The rifles
are carried along for their own protec-
ton, i'll case the hunters should be hunted
by enemies other than honey bees.
When an open glade near the edge of the
forest is reached, the piece of honeycomb
is placed on a low bush where it can be
plainly seen by the passing bees. Its
sweet aroma quickly fills the air round it,
| and attracts the little honey gatherers
toward it. Like miser, who has sud-
| denly discovered treasure of gold they
dive down into the little cells and begin
to satiate their appetite, Then, without
| suspccting the trap set for them, nor
stopping to inquire about the strange
phenomenon of honeycomb growing on a
bush, they dart away through the forest
to deposit their load in the hive.
This is the hunters opportunity. No
ticing the direction in which the bees fly,
they quickly start in pursuit, keeping the
little creatures in sight with difficulty.
Usually an old experienced bee hunter
takes the lead, and his eagle like eyes can
detect the small black specks in the air
when the others have entirely lost sight
of them. Through dense clusters of
brambles and over wet and boggy ground
they hurry, completely absorbed in the
chase, and unmindful of all disagreeable
surroundings. They have to make bee
line through the woods, and not to stop
to consider whether there is better travel
ing in another but longer direction.
Even the most expert leaders of hunt
ing parties will sometimes lose sight of
the game, and the bees will escape with
out betraying the locality of their homes.
After wandering about in the woods for
a sufficient time, searching attentively on
every tree for sign of one of the little
creatures, the leader becomes satisfied
that he cannot find the hive without re-
sorting to another trick. A small box
Win a 6ltloo IOD 10 lalCli
which are q number of bees, which the
hunters have caught round the honey
comb before entering the woods. One of
these is allowed to escape from the box,
and the direction which it takes immedi-
ately followed by the party. A walk of
several minutes is then kept up, the leader
keeping his eyes fixed ON certain tree
which he has marked in the distance.
The others of the party glance about
them to discover signs of the tree in
which the hive is hidden.
A second bee is then allowed to escape
from the box. Instead of flying in the
same direction taken by the first one, it
darts off to the right and pursues course
directly opposite to that adopted by its
mate. This would be misleading to an
inexperienced hunter, and he would con-
clude naturally that either the bees were
from different hives, or the old saying
about bees flying directly to their homes
when liberated was all "bosh."
The leader of the hunting party, how
ever, understands the mute language Of
the little insects. The party has passed
the tree containing the hive, and a coun-
termarch is Immediately ordered Double
precaution is now taken to locate the ex-
act spot of the hive, and in very short
time this is done.
But quite frequently it happens that
the hunters when in the immediate
neighborhood of the tree are unable to
distinguish the right one from the others.
The entrance to the bee castle is several
feet above the ground, and the eyes of
the hunters are unable to see it unless
attracted by the bees coming in and out
in numbers. The thifd step of the hunt
is then taken, and the leader knows that
this cannot fail. A fire is kindled and
piece of honeycomb placed upon warm
stone. In few minutes the honey be-
gins to melt, and the smell from it per-
meates the air throughout the forest,
reaching even the bees in their snug
home. AS a result, the whole colony of
bees begin to swarm out of their citadel
and fly around the fire from which the
sweet odor arises. Unconsciously they
have disclosed their hiding place, and the
hunters Immediately mark the tree and
prepare for work. The fire is allowed to
burn, and while the bees are busy gath
ering the wasted sweets the ak begins
TO make the echoes ring throughout the
woods. AS if still suspecting nothing,
the owners of the hives continue flying
backward and forward, entering and re-
entering their home with their tiny loads
of honey until the great tree begins to
tremble. A sharp, splitting noise startles
the whole colony from their work, and
before they have time to ascertain the
cause the huge tree crashes downward,
carrying with it bees, honey and all.-
Independent.